Can-opener.



J. H. BRADY.

- CAN OPENER.

APPucAnoN mzn'nmz 25. 19 5.,

1 1 78,-62Q. Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

llV VE/V TOR AITOR/VEY mass snares P TENT oriuoa.

JAMEs- HENRY BRADY, or 'LGUISVI-LIz-E, KENTUCKY.

s ac'am of Letters Patent. Pat nted A 11,191

' Applicationfiled June 25,1915; seria1nt ;-3e;191p I Y the city ofLouisville, county of Jefferson,

and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Can- Openers, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of implements,used for obtaining access to containers formed of thin sheet metal,known as can-openers.

An object of this invention is to provide an implement of the classreferred to which may be used by an unskilled person with a minimum ofeflort and a maximum of safety.

A further object is the production of a' tool of the class describedwhich will be economical to manufacture and which will be efiicient anddurable in .service.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing whichforms a part of this specification.

In the drawing wherein similar reference characters designate like partsin the several views, Figure 1, is a perspective view of a can and anopener showing the method of operation; Fig. 2, a perspective view of myimproved opener: Fig. 3, a perspective view of a blade: Fig. 4:, asectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 2: Fig. 5, a plan of a blank fromwhich the blade is formed.

Referring to the drawing the reference numeral 10 designates a handlewhich may be constructed of any suitable material and of such shape aswill best conform to the hand. The blade 11 is secured to, or connectedwith, the handle by suitable means, and extends beyond the lower endthereof. As illustrated the handle is formed of wood and has two planeparallel surfaces 12, 13, and is rounded at the top 14- to fit the palmof the hand. The edges slope down to the lower end 15 which is ofreduced area, compared with the top. One of the edges 16 is slightlyrounded transversely while the other 17 is a plane surface. The bladecomprises a web l8 having flanges -19 and 20 extended from the edgesthereof and is provided with an oblique cut ting edge 21 which iscontinued on the flanges. In the embodiment of the invenforation -.23 inthe blade.

ti'on illustrated, the bla'deissecured on the v plane edge 17 of thehandle, by means ofa screw 22 which is passed through a per- The bladeis secured on the handle in such relationship thereto that the heel 2 1-of the cutting edge, on the flange 20, lies below the end of the handlesuch a distance as will allow it to pass through the wall of thecontainer, before the handle comes into contact therewith. Other obviousways of attaching the blade to the handle will suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art, and with a change of material in the handleother methods of at taching the blades will have to be resorted to.

In service the opener is held in the hand, in the same manner as ahandle of a screw driver, with the rounded upper end resting against thepalm of the hand. The tool is held straight up with the point 25 of theblade resting on the wall of the container a suitable distance from theedge thereof, care being observed to see that the entire cutting edge ofthe blade will come within the edge of a can, then push the toolstraight downward until the lower end of the handle comes into contactwith the can, then pull it out. the end of the first out, etc. (See Fig.1). After a sufficient number of cuts have been made,the severed-portionmay be raised with the point of the opener. It will be observed that thehandle makes a out which comprises a straight portion 26 andlateral-extensions 27, 28. In making the second and subsequent cuts, thepoint of the,

blade is inserted in the lateral extension 28 of the previous cut, whichserves as a guide for the flange 19 and as a stop to prevent anybackward movement of the blade, thereby in securing a cut the full widthof the blade at each downward stroke. The shape of the blade allows ofthe use of a very thin material, sheet metal of approximately .025 of aninch in thickness being preferably used, the flanges serving to give itthe requisite stiffness.

It is thought that the many advantages of a can-opener constructed inaccordance with the foregoing description may be readily understood, andit will furthermore be evident that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, or sacrificing any of its advantages, and I therefore donot wish to re- Start second cut at Qopies of this patent may beobtained for tended at an abrupt angle from said edges, and a handle towhich said blade is attached and extends longitudinally therefrom,whereby said blade cuts only on a direct longitudinal thrust the frontflange making a lateral incision which serves as a guide and an abutmentfor the rear flange when making a succeeding cut.

JAMES HENRY BRADY.

five cents each, by addressing'the Commissioner of IEatents, Washington,D. 0.

